Danish People’s Party wants EU referendum too

Denmark should follow the Brits and hold a referendum on membership of the European Union, the leader of the far-right Danish People’s Party said Monday.

Kristian Thulesen Dahl wrote on his website that Denmark should try to win similar concessions from the EU if the U.K. votes to stay within the EU in the June 23 referendum.

If the Danish parliament cannot agree on a reformed relationship with the EU, "then why not ask the Danes to decide via a referendum," Thulesen Dahl wrote.

If Britain votes to leave the EU, Thulesen Dahl said he thought it would forge a deal with the EU based on close cooperation. This would "most likely" be an interesting position for Denmark and "other countries may find it attractive as well," he said.

The Danish People's Party, which is not against Denmark's EU membership but wants less interference in national matters, holds 37 seats in the 179-seat parliament. It became the second-biggest party after the 2015 elections, though it is not a government coalition party.

Denmark, which like the U.K. holds several exemptions from EU laws, has been supportive of British Prime Minister David Cameron's demands for a reformed U.K. relationship with the EU.

Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said earlier this year that Cameron's changes “will create a better Europe,” adding that they “will benefit Denmark as well as all other member states, not just the U.K.”